Next month, The Signal and College of the Canyons will hold their second Domestic Violence Summit to educate community members through panel discussions and breakout sessions.
The completely free event will be hosted at COC’s University Center from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 15.
“We at The Signal are honored to host the 2nd Annual Domestic Violence Summit along with College of the Canyons,” Russ Briley, The Signal’s Executive Vice President of Community Relations and Audience Development said.
“I personally grew up in a household where domestic violence was ‘my normal.’ It is my hope that the conference educates and in the short or long run helps reduce this growing epidemic.”
Patricia Wenskunas, the founder and CEO of Crime Survivors, Inc. will be the keynote speaker for the event.
Additionally, attendees will get to choose two of four presentations to attend. These include discussions on how faith-based organizations can support domestic violence survivors, tools for handling domestic violence in the workplace for both employers and employees, best practices for law enforcement and the deadliness of strangulation as a form of domestic violence.
To close the event, speaker Ana Figueredo will share her story as a survivor of domestic violence.
Santa Clarita’s Domestic Violence Center and Ventura County’s Coalition for Family Harmony are both collaborating with the hosts for the event.
As one in four women are victims of domestic violence, this summit sheds light on a prevalent issue, Domestic Violence Center Executive Director Linda Davies said.
“The summit is going to educate people that domestic violence is a common problem,” Davies said.
The various speakers will highlight challenges most advocates face when seeking to understand and help victims of domestic violence, Davies said.
The inaugural summit focused on big-picture issues surrounding domestic violence, while this year’s will hone in on specific places and problems, according to Davies.
Each discussion will equip attendees with ways to intercede when they are made aware of domestic violence, whether it be through law enforcement, work or a faith environment, she said.
The city of Santa Clarita, the county of Los Angeles, Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, Christy Smith for Assembly and Jersey Mike’s Subs are all serving as sponsors for the summit.
Breakfast and lunch will both be provided.
To register for the event, email [email protected] and include the names of those who wish to attend, a contact phone number and the two breakout session the attendees wish to attend.
As space is limited, organizers encourage those who want to attend to RSVP quickly.
